The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allowed the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) to observe by-elections in 16 National Assembly constituencies to be held on August 22.
According to a statement, FAFEN will deploy more than 500 trained and non-partisan citizen observers on the occasion.
FAFEN praised the ECP to allow citizen observation in keeping with its strategic plan that seeks to enhance electoral transparency.
The ECP has sent letters to the provincial election commissioners instructing them to facilitate FAFEN observers across the country. FAFEN is now approaching district returning officers and returning officers to issue accreditation cards to FAFEN observers in pursuance of ECP directive.
Using standardised checklist based on election laws and procedures and international best practices for elections, FAFEN observers will generate objective information on the quality of elections that will feed into research-based recommendations for improvement of future elections.
